Chiefs lose to Kernels, but don't lose ground in playoff chase

Sunday

Aug 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 18, 2013 at 5:03 PM

The new video board beyond the right-field wall at Dozer Park didn’t have anything to do with a handful of lights in the outfield losing power when the lights throughout the city flickered with two outs in the eighth inning on Saturday.

And the board looked good throughout the game and while filling time during the 31-minute power delay, save for a few kinks like not having a functioning scoreboard until play resumed.

But the Peoria Chiefs did not provide much reason for the scoreboard to be of practical use in a 6-1 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Kevin Capie

The new video board beyond the right-field wall at Dozer Park didn’t have anything to do with a handful of lights in the outfield losing power when the lights throughout the city flickered with two outs in the eighth inning on Saturday.

And the board looked good throughout the game and while filling time during the 31-minute power delay, save for a few kinks like not having a functioning scoreboard until play resumed.

But the Peoria Chiefs did not provide much reason for the scoreboard to be of practical use in a 6-1 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

“We can’t just sit back and wait for the three-run homer. We have to go battle,” Chiefs manager Dann Bilardello said. “(Starting pitcher Mike Mayers) got hurt with (pitches) up in the zone, but when you don’t score that’s the problem.”

The Chiefs stayed even with Clinton in the race for the second-half Western Division wild card as the LumberKings lost at Kane County.

The Chiefs already beat Cedar Rapids starter Hudson Boyd twice this season, but the right-hander settled down in the interim after an 11-game stint in the bullpen.

As a starter, Boyd has an ERA of 6.28 but out of the bullpen it’s 1.69. Saturday marked his third start since returning to the rotation.

“He did the first three innings what we hoped he would do — be aggressive and throw it over,” Cedar Rapids manager Jake Mauer said. “He just had to reset his mindset a little bit. He just needs some confidence to attack the zone early.”

The Chiefs managed just one run on four hits and four walks off Boyd in his five innings. But by the time Juan Herrera drove in Jordan Walton in the fourth inning, the Chiefs were already trailing.

The heart of the Cedar Rapids order gave the Kernels a 3-0 lead with three hits to start the top of the inning.

Max Kepler doubled to start the inning. Adam Brett Walker, who leads the Midwest League with 26 home runs and 104 RBIs, and Mike Gonzales each followed with a single.

Walker scored on a wild pitch and with one out. Gonzales scored from second on Joel Licon’s single for the Kernels.

The league’s best offense added two runs in the fifth inning, including a solo home run by Kepler, off reliever Thomas Lee.

“Kepler has done a nice job for them, he’s hurt us. And Walker, I say this now, hasn’t really hurt us,” Bilardello said. “Both are good players, but when you score one run it doesn’t really matter. Hopefully, we come back tomorrow.”

INSIDE PITCHES: The Chiefs had just three runners in scoring position despite getting eight hits. ... Chiefs C Jonathan Keener threw out his fifth base stealer in 11 chances this season.